TYRANNID^ — THE FLYCATCHERS. 379 



or only as a migrant lie could not determine. Mr. Dresser states that it is 

 common in the summer near San Antonio, arriving there in April. Dr. 

 Coues met it in its migrations through South Carolina. Dr. Turnbull speaks 

 of it as rare in the neighborhood of PJiiladelphia, where it arrives in the 

 middle of April on its way north. It has been found throughout Eastern 

 Mexico and Guatemala, and as far south as Panama. 



Mr. Verrill regarded this species as a summer resident in Western Maine, 

 though he never met with its nest, and at no time very common. Speci- 

 mens were procured between the last of May and the middle of June. It 

 Avas found, though very rare, by Mr. Mcllwraitli, at Hamilton, where it was 

 supposed to be a summer resident. Specimens were taken about the middle 

 of May. 



Dr. Hoy detected this species in the summer of 1869, in the vicinity of 

 Racine, and although he had no doubt that they had a nest in the vicinity, 

 he was not able to discover it. He was surprised to find that the male of 

 this species has quite a pretty song. This fact has since been confirmed by 

 the observations of Mr. Boardman, who has heard this bird give forth quite 

 a pleasing, though somewhat monotonous trill. This, according to Dr. Hoy, 

 resembles Pea-ivdyh-pea-wdyoc, several times repeated in a soft and not un- 

 pleasant call or song. 



In Western Massachusetts Mr. Allen has found this species rather rare. 

 Those met with have all been taken from May 15 to June 5. Dr. Coues, 

 in his List of the birds of New England, expresses his conviction that this 

 species is probably much less rare than collectors have generally supposed. 

 It harbors very closely in shady woods and thickets, and is very rarely to be 

 met with anywhere else. In the distance it is not easily distinguished from 

 otlier species of this genus, and may have been allowed to go unsought, 

 mistaken for a much more common species. Mr. Allen has generally met 

 with quite a number each year in May, sometimes several in a single excur- 

 sion. Mr. Maynard took eight specimens in a few hours. May 31, in Eastern 

 Massachusetts, and Mr. Welch obtained an unusual number in a single season. 

 Dr. Coues has also met with them near Washington during their breeding- 

 season. 



At Grand Menan I found the nest of this species in a low alder-bush, on 

 the edge of a tliicket, but within a few feet of the shore. The nest was 

 about two feet from the ground, placed in the foj'k of the bush, and bearing 

 a close resemblance to the nest of the Cijanospiza cijanea. It was loosely 

 made of soft strips of the inner bark of deciduous trees, and lined with 

 yellow stems of grasses. It was not large for the bird, but the conspicuous 

 color of the materials at once betrayed the nest as we chanced to land within 

 a few feet of it. The female immediately slid from it, and was not seen 

 again, but her mate was undisturbed by our presence. Afterwards other 

 nests were obtained at Halifax, on the edge of swampy woods, made of 

 stubble, and placed in low bushes. All the eggs I obtained were white, of a 



